Although 2025 is drawing to a close, this year has left fans with some of the best anime that are perfect for binge-watching. With groundbreaking storylines, deep characters, and innovative approaches that break with conventional formulas, these anime are so good that viewers will regret not having seen them sooner.
Many viewers eagerly anticipate the end-of-year holidays to enjoy the most outstanding titles of the past few months, and anime fans couldn’t have a better opportunity with the range of options available in 2025. From underrated titles to popular shōnen series, these anime are some of the best of 2025 that no viewer should miss.
A Wild Last Boss Appeared!
A Wild Last Boss Appeared! is a 2025 anime for fans of isekai like Overlord. The protagonist suddenly finds himself inside the game he used to play, embodying his powerful avatar, Ruphas Mafahl. The anime revolves around Ruphas, who gathers information and recruits his former subordinates while gradually unveiling the hidden truth of the world, which successfully keeps viewers intrigued.
A Wild Last Boss Appeared! doesn’t simply focus on Ruphas’s invincibility but rather on expanding its world-building, unraveling the mystery of his summoning to the game world. This makes it an entertaining story even for those tired of other isekai anime. Furthermore, it stands out as one of the best action anime of 2025, with intense and beautifully animated aerial battles.
May I Ask for One Final Thing?
What better way to end the year than watching a lady who speaks with her fists? In “May I Ask for One Final Thing?” Scarlet El Vandimion appears at first glance to be a submissive and elegant noblewoman, but she is anything but. Scarlet isn’t afraid to punch the aristocrats who bother her in the face, starting with her ex-fiancé.
The best part is that Scarlet isn’t driven by justice or revenge, but by the desire to relieve her pent-up frustration. Intertwining romance and political intrigue while showcasing the dark side of the nobility, what sets the anime apart is how Scarlett confronts corrupt nobles with ruthless violence, making it addictive and leaving viewers with a refreshing feeling.
Secrets of the Silent Witch
Secrets of the Silent Witch tells the story of Monica Everett, an extremely shy genius and the only user of chantless magic. Her mission is to protect a prince, so she must enroll in a school while concealing her identity. But beyond battles with overwhelmingly powerful spells, the anime focuses on Monica’s growth as she confronts her fear of socializing.
As Monica learns to open up to others, the anime’s heartwarming atmosphere and focus on self-improvement can provide viewers with the perfect mindset to end the year. From battles where magic is governed by logical and scientific principles to conspiracies and power struggles both within and beyond the country’s borders, Secrets of the Silent Witch is a thrilling and unmissable fantasy.
Sakamoto Days
Custom Image by Ana Nieves
A perfect anime for viewers to kick off the end of 2025 with is Sakamoto Days, which combines heartwarming slice-of-life with comical battles. The anime follows Taro Sakamoto, a legendary hitman who, after meeting his soulmate, resolutely retires from crime. However, the Sakamoto family’s peace is interrupted by the arrival of assassins targeting them.
Despite appearing to be a simple, laid-back and silly anime with a skilled and practically invincible protagonist, Sakamoto Days has many serious moments that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With incredibly dynamic and fast-paced battles, Sakamoto Days will leave viewers wanting more, which is why it has become one of Netflix’s most popular anime series.
Clevatess
A dark epic story on a grand scale, Clevatess is an ideal recommendation for viewers with a craving for high-quality fantasy anime. Set in a brutal world reminiscent of Berserk, which doesn’t shy away from bloodshed, Clevatess is more than your typical anime following a hero and her party, unfolding in a completely different direction from what viewers expect.
Despite its gruesome nature, Clevatess maintains a balanced tone with doses of comedy. Furthermore, Clevatess‘ greatest appeal lies in its animation style, which shares the charm of classic anime, detailed world-building, and its unique protagonist, who isn’t a hero nor has a clear inclination towards good but possesses a strong curiosity and infuses a feeling of tension throughout the story.
Gachiakuta
Discriminated against and losing everything, Ludo is falsely accused of a crime and thrown into an underground world filled with trash. These tragic circumstances opened the way to one of the most refreshing shōnen anime of recent years, as Gachiakuta‘s story knew how to distinguish itself.
Gachiakuta not only has a fascinating power system and battles with bombastic animation that are a visual marvel, but it has also managed to win over fans with its detailed world-building featuring a harsh and desolate environment full of injustices, a Mad Max-style urban aesthetic, and intriguing mysteries that make viewers want to find out what happens next.
Apocalypse Hotel
One of the most underrated anime of 2025, Apocalypse Hotel is the anime version of WALL-E that viewers didn’t know they needed. Packed with social commentary on environmental preservation and a profound message about the passage of time, Apocalypse Hotel offers a melancholic look at a world where humanity has emigrated and only androids and robots remain.
Full of absurd comedy and action scenes with sublime animation, Apocalypse Hotel is one of the best original anime of the year. With an emotional exploration of humanity, Apocalypse Hotel is a self-contained story that is not only easy to binge-watch but will also evoke many feelings in viewers and leave them reflecting.
To Be Hero X
Chinese animation experienced the greatest growth in 2025, partly thanks to the impact of To Be Hero X. This donghua brought to life one of the most innovative interpretations of heroism, where heroes are like idols under the scrutiny of public opinion because they gain their powers by winning people’s trust and are defined in a ranking competition.
While it may seem simple, To Be Hero X is remarkable not only for its high production quality and seamless integration of 2D and 3D animation, but also for how it explores themes like humanity and self-worth through its diverse characters. To Be Hero X masterfully portrays the unsettling side of human nature with mind-bending twists that make the episodes fly by.
Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26
While Tatsuki Fujimoto is best known for the success of Chainsaw Man, the anime adaptation of his short story collection, 17-21 and 21-26, is one of the most creative titles of 2025. From whimsical and quirky scenarios that perfectly embody themes such as humanity, identity, young love, and a variety of other topics, 17-26 is sure to resonate with viewers.
In Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26, the 8 short stories are adapted by different directors, each with a distinct style, ranging from conflicts more grounded in reality to gritty sci-fi tales full of experimental color palettes and dynamic animation. This makes the anime a visual delight that viewers will regret not watching in 2025.
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth uses a historical discovery as a basis to create one of the most inspiring and thought-provoking anime of the last decade. Although it covers the discovery of the heliocentric theory amidst persecution of the church, Orb is more than just a boring historical anime; it’s an ode to ideals and the pursuit of dreams.
Orb features one of the best antagonists in anime, chilling and gritty scenes that will give viewers goosebumps, plenty of tension, and deep philosophical themes. Despite having been overshadowed by other series, Orb is a grounded story that will broaden viewers’ perspectives like no other and should be at the top as one of the best anime of the year.